“Just when I thought we were finally done with this nonsense…” the King muttered with an exasperated grimace, “Well then, what says the Beastlands? Vrayna as a whole had no knowledge of the Duke’s deception, therefore I think it only fair that this should not affect the tenuous peace you have created with my son.”
Rastari stepped forward with a wide grin on his face, “Your Majesty, the Beastlands only demand one concession from Vrayna on this matter, one that your Prince Elantro has already been wise enough to grant us.”
“Your Majesty,” the First Prince said, “the delegates from the Beastlands have been nothing if not understanding regarding this incident. The truth was uncovered before Julien de Ramport left for the Beastlands and they have worked with me, not against me, to rectify the situation. In compensation, they have asked that the Duke of Ramport, along with his knights, be remanded into their custody for punishment.”
“How dare you?” my stepmother, who had been silent up until this point, shrieked, “He is one of your people and of the highest noble birth! How dare you sacrifice him to those animals? And you! You pathetic excuse for a son! How dare you betray your father like this?!”
My stepmother’s once beautiful face was distorted and ugly as she raged at the First Prince’s verdict.
“Luisa,” the Duke of Lindenfort hissed, “your husband has made a mockery of us all. Keep your mouth shut before you make it worse.”
“She knew,” I hurriedly interjected, “The Duchess of Ramport was not ignorant of my father’s deeds. In fact, where my father ordered those crimes as a means to an end, my stepmother relished in the tales of violence my father’s knights brought back for her. Make no mistake, she was informed and complicit in all of it.”
The Duke of Lindenfort’s face went pale at the revelation. He looked at his daughter in disbelief. The Duke of Lindenfort was many things, but a traitor to his King, he was not. I doubted he cared at all about the fate of those women, nor did he care for peace, but he certainly cared that his daughter had disgraced their house before the King.
His wife, realizing the gravity of my accusation, fell to her knees and begged, “Your Majesty, I entreat you, please spare my daughter. She couldn't possibly have understood the consequences of her actions. She didn't know it would lead to war!”
The King watched my stepmother with no sympathy in his gaze, “Even if she didn’t understand the consequences at the time, she didn’t come forward when she discovered them. I will not allow the animals to take her, but she will indeed be punished for her actions. Knights, take her to the dungeon. I will decide what to do with her later. The Beastlands can have the Duke and his knights.”
The Palace knights took my stepmother away. She didn’t even bother to fight them, still reeling from the sudden change in her fate. The Duke and Duchess of Lindenfort watched as their daughter was dragged away, their faces hardening once she was gone.
“Your Majesty,” the Duke of Lindenfort uttered in a subdued voice, “Please know that the House of Lindenfort had no knowledge of Ramport’s treachery. We are loyal to Your Majesty and would never deceive you in such a way.”
The King surprised everyone by turning to me and asking, “Marquis, have you any evidence that contradicts the Duke of Lindenforts claims or loyalty?”
After how horribly he had treated me, a small part of me wanted to claim that I did, but I answered the King's question honestly, “No, Your Majesty. I have never witnessed anything to indicate that they were privy to my father’s plan.”
“Very well then,” the King said as he turned back to the western Duke, “the house of Lindenfort will not be held responsible for their daughter’s actions. Marquis, you are still your father’s heir, so you shall henceforth be known as the Duke of Ramport. Since your marriage is a fruitless union, you may choose a mistress from one of the noble houses to bear your child. I heard you spent some time in the inner city. Perhaps one of the Royal kin caught your eye? The Gods know we have enough of those broodmares to go around. What say you?”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I have no intention of dissolving my marriage,” I replied, my heart pounding in my chest at this unexpected turn of events, “nor do I intend to be intimate with anyone but my mate. Furthermore, I have no intention of remaining in Vrayna once the treaty is concluded. However, if it pleases you, I could choose a regent before I depart for the Beastlands, and I could consider adopting an heir in the future.”
The King didn’t look pleased at all as he informed me, “Duke of Ramport, you have an obligation to your duchy and to your King. Do you think to abandon your responsibilities?”
“Your Majesty, I am no Duke,” I stated plainly, “I may hold that title by right of succession, but I have neither the desire nor the ability to bear that responsibility. I as much as I am a citizen of Vrayna, I am also a citizen of the Beastlands. My mate and I have chosen a simple life in the Beastlands, one where we can live happily together, free of such obligation. I cannot be Julien de Ramport, the Duke of the southern duchy, because that is not who I am. I'm Falyn. Just Falyn. My mother’s son and a commoner. The mate of a beast general and the apprentice of the busiest apothecary in our village. That is the life I have already chosen, Your Majesty.”
“You misunderstand, Duke,” the King responded in a threatening voice, “you do not get a choice. I am your King and I order you to fulfil your obligation. You will not be returning to the Beastlands. Your beast can stay with you, but it will not hold the title of Duchess, and you will produce an heir.”
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“Good King,” Rastari suddenly interrupted, “it is you who misunderstands. As he has stated, Falyn is a citizen of the Beastlands now. I would hate to see our treaty fall apart because you are holding a citizen of the Beastlands hostage.”
“General Rastari,” the King uttered, looking disdainfully at the beastman, “are you actually implying that the Beastlands would turn their backs on peace over this one boy?”
Rastari’s white fangs gleamed as he smiled and stood up from his seat, “I’m not implying anything. I’m outright saying it. This one boy, as you called him, is the mate of a war general and the tie that binds this haphazard peace together. Personally, I’d like for him to stay here and use his status to fix the corrupt and greedy system that leaves your people starving in the streets, but alas, that's not what he wants. We can and will fight for his right to make that choice. So you tell me, is this one boy worth it?”
“Father, Your Majesty,” the First Prince interceded, “I expected this outcome. The Duke holds his husband in his heart and I knew he would not wish to stay. While he was in the Beastlands, I examined the state of the southern duchy, and I believe that the Count Zacharias of Flinche would make an excellent regent. In fact, out of all the southern Lords, he is the one I would appoint as the new Duke, had I the power to make such a decision.”
The King narrowed his eyes for a moment, then shook his head and said, “Very well, Elantro, I will trust your judgement on this. The Count of Flinche shall now be known as Duke Zacharias de Ramport. Has he any children?”
“No, Your Majesty,” the First Prince answered with a knowing smile, “His wife passed away some years ago before she could produce him an heir. However, Emma de Ramport still needs to be dealt with. The new Duke is still young enough to take her as his wife, which would allow for his successor to carry the blood of the original Ramport line.”
Upon hearing that, the King seemed satisfied. He turned to me and said, “Julien de Ramport, I revoke your noble title and the responsibilities that come with it. You are still a noble by blood, but by status, you are now the commoner you wish to be. And since I have no reason to attend a commoner’s wedding, I will take my leave.”
Without any further fanfare, the King turned and left the banquet hall.
With the King gone and my father finally dealt with, we saw no further need to remain at the celebration, as the focus was no longer on celebrating our union. The nobles around us were buzzing from the scene they had just witnessed. Never in Vraynian history had the power of a ducal house changed hands, nor had a noble ever willingly given up their birthright.
The Duke and Duchess of Lindenfort left immediately to avoid the shame of their daughter’s misdeeds, while the eastern Duke and Lady Carlotta looked very pleased with the whole situation. From her place at the table, Lady Carlotta nodded her head to me with a look of pride upon her face.
The First Prince made a short announcement that the celebration would continue despite the interruption, and the orchestra began playing again as Andrian and I walked away from the dance floor.
We adjourned to the Royal honeymoon suite that the First Prince had graciously prepared for us. The suite consisted of two spacious rooms, a large bedroom with a seating area, and a grand bathing room with a tub large enough for both of us to bathe in.
In the seating area, which consisted of a small round table and a two person couch, food and wine had been laid out for us, and the tub in the bathing room was already filled with steaming water. The bathwater gave off a mild floral scent and flowers were artfully floating on the surface. There was also a balcony with two seats that overlooked the Palace grounds and the inner city.
The suite was decorated to our tastes, nothing ostentatious or gaudy, but it was beautifully orchestrated. I suspected that Amelie might have had a hand in its design. We took a moment to appreciate the scene before removing our shoes and beginning to explore the room.
“One thing I can say for these Royal folk,” Andrian commented, “they sure know how to spoil themselves. That bath looks too good to actually wash in.”
“I think that we deserve a little spoiling tonight,” I replied, “since we’re celebrating finally putting this mess behind us.”
“Then should we ruin that pretty looking bath by getting in it?” Andrian asked, hugging me from behind.
“That sounds like a great idea,” I agreed, twisting my head to look at him. “A bath, some wine, and two wet naked bodies pressing against each other.”
“Ah, so naked bodies will be involved?” Andrian pursued, sliding his hands under my shirt.
As he caressed me, I told him, “Oh, yes. There will definitely be naked bodies. Lots of touching and kissing too.”
He spun me around and his lips were on mine before I could process what happened. He kissed me with an intense passion as his hands began roaming my body. His calloused fingertips ran up and down my spine, sending jolts of pleasure through my body. I moaned into his mouth as I tugged his jacket off.
“I don’t think we’re making it to the bath,” he growled as he pulled my shirt over my head. "I don't think I can stand to wait that long."
“Mmm, you’re gonna have to though,” I told him, before averting my eyes and shyly adding, “it’s my first time, so you’re going to have to take it slow.”
Andrian stiffened against me, “Does that mean what I think it means?”
“I don’t know,” I responded in a teasing voice, trying to hide my embarrassment. I pulled him close so I could hide my face and whispered in his ear, “What do you think it means?”
He shuddered as I nibbled on his earlobe and he purred, “I'm pretty sure I know what it means, but I want to hear you say it.”
“I want you inside me, Andri,” I told him, feeling my cheeks heat up as I spoke, “Just like you gave yourself to me after our joining, I want to give myself to you now. I-I’m a little nervous, but I’m ready for this.”
“You’re sure?” he asked softly, nuzzling his face into my neck.
“I’m sure,” I assured him, “I’ve never been so sure in my life. I don’t want my choices to be dictated by my past anymore. I want you. All of you. In every way possible.”
“Then we should get in that tub,” he informed me with a wicked smile, picking me up and carrying me toward the bathing room.